Merz Booed by German Union Ahead of Crunch Coalition Talks (1)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz drew shouts and jeers at a labor union conference as he made a pitch for ambitious reforms, underscoring the difficulty he’ll face as he seeks to reverse his beleaguered government’s fortunes.

“What we’re doing now has to last for years, perhaps for decades – and it has to be supported from citizens in our country,” Merz told a German Trade Union Confederation congress on Tuesday as he outlined healthcare cost cuts and a public-pension overhaul. “Everybody has to give something,” he said, triggering a chorus of boos.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at the DGB on May 7.

Photographer: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa/Getty Images

The confrontation laid bare mounting tension as Merz’s ...